Chapter 5

Back in Metropolis, a week later.

Oliver knocked on Lois' door to which Chloe answered, she smiled up at him and let him inside, "Hey." Oliver pulled her close and kissed her with warm lips. He released her, but she pulled him into an embrace. It wasn't until he scanned the room when he saw Kara and Dinah already there, standing awkwardly. Oliver smiled back at them and turned to Chloe "Are you sure she wants us over today?"

"Yeah, I mean we don't want to intrude or anything." Said Kara.

Chloe nodded, "This was her idea, we're not intruding."

"How's she doing?" asked Oliver

Chloe took a deep breath and shook her head, "I'm not really sure. She wanted to be alone with the baby all this week."

"Yeah I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't come out of her room for like a year." Said Dinah

At that moment, Lois walked down the stairs, with a smile on her face when she saw Oliver, "Hi guys I'm so glad you could come!" She walked up to Oliver and hugged him as he kissed her forehead.

"Hey legs..." Oliver sounded a bit hesitant, and greeted her with the tone of a parent to a four year old. Chloe was watching Lois the whole time with suspicion. Even though it's been a week, this was the first time they saw Lois since Clark had left.

"We wanted to show our support and wish the big man a happy first birthday."

"Thank you." Lois said when Oliver handed her with some flowers and a wrapped gift for Chris.

"You know we'll be here... for Chris...because we know how...how much he needs us... and you..." Kara was hesitating to make out a sentence, and stood in awkward silence. Lois looked back and forth at everyone and Chloe, who was still watching her reaction.

Lois rolled her eyes, "Oh come on you guys this is a celebration, Chris is turning 1, and Clark is... embracing his hero side. We should all be happy for him. I am." Her voice was a higher pitch than usual. She sounded so upbeat and giddy.

"You are?" Chloe asked with much confusion.

"Of course I am!" Her voice sounded happier than ever.

"Lois you don't have to put on a brave face... we're all here for you." Said Dinah.

"No really you guys. I'm okay!" Lois replied with a big grin. Everyone paused, Lois continued, "Now let's go celebrate his birthday. I'm gonna go get him here..." She handed the flowers and present Oliver gave her to Chloe, "Be right back!" She skipped up the stairs. Kara and Dinah shrugged and took the gifts off of Chloe's hands and went to go set the table.

Chloe suddenly turned to Oliver with a stern voice, "Something's wrong with Lois."

Oliver's eyebrows furrowed at her, "Maybe she's... moved on?"

"No Lois doesn't move on, she fights! I'm telling you that wasn't Lois. At least not the one I know!" Chloe started to get worried, and Oliver looked up the stairs to where Lois headed and wondered himself what had happened to her.

"Do you think Clark did something to her before he left?"

"What do you mean?" Chloe was confused.

"I mean what if he asked Jor-El to suppress her emotions. She was a mess when she came to Watchtower and saw Clark, didn't he go to the Fortress at one point? After Clark sped off with her, was she different when she came home later that night?"

Chloe thought for a moment, remembering the night she came home when Clark left for good, "Now that you mention it, she was neither sad nor angry. I just figured she was depressed or in denial, but I never looked into it."

"We have to find out if he did something." Oliver said.

"But how?"

Oliver looked at Kara, and Chloe knew what to do, she turned to Kara and told her she needs to go to the Fortress and find out if Jor-El did something to Lois.

Kara flew to the Fortress and called out for Jor-El, "Hello Kara-El. What can I do for you?

"Lois isn't herself. Did Kal-El do something to her?"

Jor-El paused for a moment, "Yes. Kal-El asked me to take away her grief so that she could be a fit mother for Christopher."

Kara shook her head, "He had no right to do that. He can't take away someone's pain!"

"I know you may not understand his intentions, but Kal-El did it in his family's best interest. Should Lois start feeling all the emotions to the loss, she will distance herself to everything that reminds her of Kal-El. Even her son. She will be too grief stricken to be the mother she is meant to be for my grandson, for your nephew. You need to understand. Lois needs this."

Kara couldn't believe she was hearing this, Jor-El was agreeing with Clark. "It's wrong Jor-El. This is wrong. You need her to feel what she needs to to truly move on please. She has us. She has the support she needs to get through this. You have to give her back her emotions you can't suppress them forever. She's only human."

"Alright. I'll reverse it, but please take care of her Kara."

Kara nodded, "I will! I promise."

"To trigger the emotions again you need to remind her that her husband had left. You need to bring out that pain in her." Kara nodded and sped out of the fortress. She knew exactly what she had to do.

Kara returned to Lois' condo where Chloe and Oliver were sitting on the couch, playing with Chris. "Where's Lois?"

Chloe stood up and handed Chris to Oliver, "What did you find out?"

Kara stared back at Chloe, "I need to talk to Lois."

Lois entered the room, "Kara you missed out on a great cake. I guess it was smart of me to not bake it after all, well, after the first three trials!" Lois chuckled and turned to Chris when Kara blocked her view from him. Lois was confused and stepped back, "Is everything okay?"

"No Lois, Clark is gone."

Lois blinked at the surprising remark, while Chloe and Oliver looked at each other, confused. Lois spoke slowly, "I know that."

Kara shook her head, and said sternly, "I don't think you do."

"What?" Lois looked so clueless.

"Pain, grief, mourning. These are all things humans are supposed to be feeling when you lose someone you love. Like Clark."

"Clark?..uhm. Kara he's moved on to a better life, but it's not like he's dead. Now if you don't mind I'd rather not dwell on such a painful memory." Lois started to walk away and Kara grabbed her arm gently, Lois turned to face her again.

"Okay, well then if he has a better life then why aren't you with him living it? Why is your son left without a father?"

"Yes well... but-"

"Lois listen to me! Clark is gone! He left you and he's not coming back! And I'm sure Chris cries every night because he hasn't been programmed to feel it the way you are."

Lois was stunned, "Programmed? Kara what's gotten into you?"

"This is what Clark has done. Clark asked Jor-El to suppress your emotions from losing him. I'm de-programming it for you. You're human Lois you need to feel this to move on."

Lois' lips started to tremble, she swallowed hard and she felt a weird feeling at the back of her throat, an all too familiar feeling rising up and she was rejecting it this whole time. "I don't wanna hear this!" Lois pulled her arm away from Kara's grip and started walking away. Kara followed her into the den, Lois started pacing back and forth.

"I know you don't want to hear this but listen to your son." Chris was starting to cry while Oliver was trying to calm him down but nothing was working. Lois closed her eyes and turned her head from him. "That's pain and it's real."

"Kara stop!" Lois ran her fingers through her hair. A sob was breaking loose and her heart felt like it was breaking.

"How could you not see it? The only reason you're okay with all of this was because Jor-El made it okay for you in your mind." Lois started to breath harder and faster, Kara knew she was finally feeling hurt. It killed her to do this but she had to. "Clark's gone Lois. He left you."

Lois started to hyperventilate. She could hear Clark's voice in her head, remembering the last time she saw him on the Daily Planet rooftop. She shook her head to suppress those memories but it wouldn't work. The damage was done. She felt pain. Lois pressed her fingers against her temples and started crying. Her heart was aching. Kara stared back, she had done it. Lois was back. Lois opened her eyes full of tears, "Why! Why would he do this!"

Kara blinked, "Because he loves you."

Lois shook her head, she couldn't stop sobbing, she covered her mouth with both her hands and fell to the ground on her knees. Chloe ran to her and embraced her. Kara joined in and hugged her. Oliver choked back and knelt down beside Lois, stroking her back with one hand while Chris was still in his arms. "He left me...he's really gone..." that was all Lois was whispering between her sobs.